Controlling metering devices

An air conditioner comprising:

• a thermal expansion valve configured to automatically adjust an amount of refrigerant allowed to pass through the valve, wherein the thermal expansion valve comprises:
• a bulb containing a fluid, wherein a temperature of the bulb at least partially controls the amount of refrigerant allowed to pass through the thermal expansion valve;
• a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is fluidly coupled with the bulb and operable to respond to the temperature of the bulb to at least partially control the amount of refrigerant allowed to pass through the thermal expansion valve;
• and
• a control system coupled to the thermal expansion valve, the control system comprising:
• one or more heat transfer elements coupled to the bulb and configured to increase and decrease the temperature of the bulb;
• and
• a controller coupled to the one or more heat transfer elements, wherein the controller is configured to deliver a signal controlling heat transfer by one or more of the heat transfer elements;
• wherein the control system is configured to:
• alter the automatic adjustment of the thermal expansion valve by delivering the signal controlling heat transfer by one or more of the heat transfer elements in response to determining a pressure in a portion of the air conditioner exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure;
• monitor a responsiveness of the thermal expansion valve to the delivered signal;
• determine that the responsiveness of the thermal expansion valve is outside a predetermined tolerance range;
• deliver an additional signal to at least one of the heat transfer elements in respose to determining that the responsiveness of the thermal expansive valve is outside the predetermined tolerance range;
• and
• further after the amount of refrigerant allowed to pass through the thermal expansion valve in conjunction with delivering the additional signal;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to alter the ordinary operation of the thermal expansion valve to reduce an effect of conditions of the air conditioner that increase sensitivity of the thermal expansion valve due to the pressure exceeding the predetermined maximum pressure.